CURAÇAO ARRIVAL

This was our first visit to Willemstad, and we planned to take a food tour, but nothing was available for today.  We decided, instead, to visit one of the local food stalls in the Old Market and then walk about 1.5 miles back to the ship.

The ship arrived around 8 am, and we relaxed in our cabin until noon when we headed ashore.  We always start our shore adventures at the furthest point from the ship and work our way back to the ship. This way, we will have less distance to cover as the day goes on in case things take longer than expected.

TAXI TO THE OLD MARKET

Taxis were readily available at the end of the pier.  I downloaded an APP called CLICK CURAÇAO, which is similar to Uber.  I didn’t use it, but it helped me estimate what a taxi fare should cost.

The app quoted USD 28 for a taxi from the Cruise Pier to the Old Market in Punda, so when the driver quoted me $20, I accepted immediately.  Erwin was our driver and dropped us outside the Old Market (Plasa Bieu) in 15 minutes.  Most people eating here were locals, with a few tourists scattered around.

Inside the old market were about 15 independently operated food stalls.  The menus were posted in front.  We randomly selected “Mom’s Kitchen”.

Our server, Shury, was all smiles and very friendly.  I asked her for the house specialty, and she recommended the beef stew, which arrived hot and steaming in about 10 minutes.  We were here about 40 minutes before finishing up and moving on.  There are clean restrooms available.

VISIT THE NEW MARKET

A short walk away is a large round building called “The New Market.”  The New Market catered to tourists and had a variety of souvenirs and similar products.  They also sold a variety of household items for residents.  We spent about 15 minutes here before continuing.

FLOATING MARKET & COCONUT

The floating market is actually on the quay wall, but the vendors arrive on boats and set up, and I guess that’s where the name came from.  A wide variety of fresh produce is available in addition to clothing, souvenirs, and touristy items.

After leaving the Floating Market, we headed to the center of Punda, the area across Queen Emmas Bridge from the ship.

PUNDA & THE FANTASY GARDEN

We were delayed about 15 minutes when a violent rain squall passed overhead. We were able to find shelter and stay dry.

There is an art walk in Punda, which would be a fun way to spend a few hours.  We didn’t discover the details until after we left, but you can find more information HERE when you plan your day.

In the center of Punda, there are a couple of touristy signs in Wilhelmina Park – one saying CURAÇAO and the other saying DUSHI (meaning sweet, nice, or good).

Nearby was the Parliament of Curaçao, which I thought may have been a library – but I soon learned otherwise.  There wasn’t much to see in the lobby, but the receptionist was very friendly.

CROSSING THE QUEEN EMMA BRIDGE

The Queen Emma Bridge, constructed in 1888, is a floating pontoon bridge that crosses St Anna Bay, connecting the Punda and Otrobanda districts of Willemstad.  The bridge is hinged and is opened using diesel engines, turning propellors mounted perpendicular, which lets it rotate parallel to shore in a few minutes.  Later in the afternoon, the bridge was opened to let the “Ambience” Cruise ship from Ambassador Cruise Lines, moored at Mathey Wharf, head out to sea.

We crossed St Anna Bay and took an ice cream break at a Baskin Robbins just off Brión Square.

RENAISSANCE MALL AND RIF FORT

We browsed through a few of the touristy shops in the Renaissance mall.  There are also some high-end shops here as well.  A Starbucks is nearby.
There is a nice saltwater infinity pool for the exclusive use of the Renaissance Hotel guests (rooms about $400 a day).  We could take a peak using the stairs in the back of the “It’s 5 O’clock Somewhere” bar on the waterfront near the Zuiderdam.

LITTLE MERMAID

There wasn’t a live show on the World Stage this evening, but they showed the movie – “The Little Mermaid.”

We have only scratched the surface of the many wonderful opportunities in Curaçao, and this would be a nice place to visit during a more extended land vacation.